Mudra मुद्रा
Mudra term has different meanings.
- One meaning is a form of money.
- It means seal also.
- Mudra is also a hand pose.
Mudras are usually used in Natya, Yog, and Rituals. Some people have a habit of forming mudras.
Mudras may express inner feelings and psychological states. Mudras also express qualities or personalities e.g. fearlessness, power, charity, peace, etc. in the person practicing the mudras.
Hinduism shows the earliest recorded knowledge and analysis of Mudras in Upasana, Mantra, and Nritya shastras.
Mudras are practiced by people of all religions, all over the world.
Like Yog, Mudras should be learned from a Guru and must be practiced sincerely under expert guidaance.
Human body is made up of five basic elements. These are Aakash, Vayu, Agni, Jaal, and Prithvi.
Five fingers represent these five elements. Different people ascribe different element to a particular finger.
- Thumb or anghotta Represents Agni or Aakash
- Index or tarjani finger represents Vayu
- Middle finger or madhyama represents Aakash or Agni
- Ring finger or anamika represents Prithvi or Jaal
- Little finger represents Jaal or Prithavi
Belief is that by touching the finger tips with each other or to other parts of the palms, the free energy (Prana) is redirected back into the body stimulating various chakrs. Mudras work like closing the circuit and therefore flow the energy. Mudras are commonly used during Pranayam.
Buddists usually practice following ten mudras:
- Abhay
- Bhoomisparśh
- Bodhyangi
- Dharmachakra Pravartan
- Dhyān
- Varad
- Vajra
- Vitark
- Jñan
- Karana
Hath yog pradeepika has ten maha mudras:
- Mahamudra
- mahabandh
- Uddiyan
- Jalandhar bandh
- Mool bandh
- Viprit Karani
- Shakti chalan
- Khechari
- Mahavedh
- Vajroli
Gerhand samhita has 25 mudras.
- Aadi--thumb is folded in loose fist. Four fingers are covering thumb.
- Aakash - beneficial in migrains,sinusitis, and hearing. useful in activating Visshudhi chakr.
- Aakashi
- Abhay
- Abhishek--for dharna
- Anjali
- Ankush--Middle finger is straight, index, ring, and small finger are half bent, thumb is straight towards middle finger but not touching it. Keep these mudra hands near ears.
- Apan or mrit sanjiveeni--Front, top part of middle and ring finger touch the thumb. Useful for body detoxification.
- Ardh Pataka
- Ashwini
- Bandh
- Bhairav- Right hand is in top position. Bhairavi- left hand is in top position. Maintains equilibrium between left and right brain.
- Bhomisparsh
- Bhoochari
- Bhramara
- Bhujangini
- Bodhyangi
- Brahm--- thumb is inside fist. Fingers cover thumb. Knuckles of both hands touch each other. Palm side of hands are up. Hands are on navel.
- Buddhi
- Chin--thumb and index finger touch each other. Middle, ring, and little fingers are straight and stretched out. Hands are on knees in padmasan or sukhasan or singhasan.
- Chinmay
- Dharmchakr
- Dharmdhatu-- for dhyan
- Dhyan or gyan--Touch front, top part of thumb and index finger. Remaining three fingers are straight. Relieves stress and gives peace and happiness. Increases Memory. Used during meditation.
- Ganesh--Clasp fingers of both hands. Palmer aspects of fingers are touching each other. Thumbs are straight alongside palm of same hand and littlefinger of opposite hand.
- Garud
- Gomukh
- Granthita
- Gyan or dhyan--touch top, front part of index and thumb. Remaining three fingers are straight.
- Hakini - Helps with cencentration. Try to bring the mudra hands up, in front of the third eye location. During inhalation from nostril, take the tonge up towards the palate and during exhalation from the nostrils, take the tongue back to normal position.
- Hamsasya Mudra
- Hridhy--Index finger to base of thumb, tip of middle and ring finger touch the top, front part of thumb, and little finger is in straight line with palm.
- Jalandhar Bandh
- Jal or dhara or tattv or tarpan
- Jnan
- Kali or Kasepana- interlock little, ring, and middle finger of both hands. Bring index fingers close to each other(touching each other). Left thumb is over the right thumb. Elbows on the sides of torso. Point the index fingers away from you. Good for anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.
- Kanishth
- Kappitah and suchi
- Karana
- Khechari
- Kuber--for brahmcharya. Tips of thumb, index, and middle finger touch each other. Ring and little finger are bent on the palm.
- Ling
- lotus or Padm
- Maha Bhed
- Maha Vedh
- Mahamudra
- Mahasir
- Mandal --for Samadhi
- Manduki
- Mool Bandh
- Murti
- Nag
- Nasikagra( Nasika or Vishnu)- Mainly used during anulom vilom pranayam.
- Panch
- Pashinee
- Pran-Tip of thumb, ring, and little finger touch each other. Middle and index fingers are straight.
- Prithvi--Touch front, top part of index finger and thumb. For under weight issues.
- Pushpa Mudra
- Pushpaputa
- Rudr
- Shakti--Front, top part of index and small finger touch the thumb. Good for correcting weakness.
- Shambhavi
- Shankh--Front, top part of middle finger and thumb touch each other. For ear diseases.
- Shanmukhi
- Shunya--Tip of middle finger is at base of thumb and thumb lightly presses it. Remaining fingers are straight. Good for ear diseases.
- Simhamukh and Sukachanchu
- Surbhi--Tips of little fingers touch ring fingers and tips of index fingers touch middle fingers. Thumbs are straight.
- Surya--tip of ring finger is at the base of thumb which lightly presses it. Remaining fingers are straight. Good for obesity.
- Tadagi
- Tambula Mudra
- Tattv-- touch tips of all fingers with fingers in other hand. All fingers are straight.
- Uddiyan bandh
- Unmani
- Vajr- helpful in dizziness and weakness.
- Vajroli
- Varad
- Varun--Front, top part of little finger touches thumb. Good for urinary issues and dryness.
- Vayan
- Vayu-Front, top part of index finger is at base of thumb. Remaining three fingers are in extension. Good for arthritis and lungs.
- Vipritkarani
- Vishnu
- Vitark
- Yoni
Questions:
If energy goes waste from fingertips and that is why we approximate and touch these to form Mudras then what about toes and other body parts which are free endings?
If two people touch each others finger tips then what will happen?
Whole body and everything in this world is made of five tattvs then why one finger represents a specific tattv?
Bharti Raizda
